Several tourists in Mt. Rainier National Park disregarded their own safety, along with park guidelines, to shoot video and take photos of a black bear feeding alongside a pathway.
These types of people are often referred to as tourons, a derogatory slang term combining tourist with moron to describe national park visitors who act recklessly, stupidly, disrespectfully, carelessly and dangerously.
“All bears need space, so don't sneak up on them for photos!” the Mt. Rainier National Park website states. “The recommended distance is 300 feet…or about 20 cars lined up end to end. When humans get too close, over time bears can lose their fear.”
These clueless tourists, or tourons, were merely feet away from this bear.
“Close enough to take a selfie with
a bear is way too close,” Your National Parks wrote in its Instagram post. “Remember to give wildlife it’s space to be wild.”
Commenters on the post were less gentle in their rebukes. Among the comments:
“Idiots.”
“People have become as dense as sheep these days. You literally deserved to be attacked at this point.”
“Are you kidding me! Leave the wildlife alone.”
Also on FTW Outdoors: Grizzly bear runs toward terrified hikers, but look closer (video)
“[I’m] voting for bear to attack.”
“You are not giving the wild animal the proper space between him and you!!!!! Respect the WILDLIFE!!!!!!!!”
“What is wrong with them?”
“They won’t stop until they get injured, mauled, etc.”
As far as we know, nobody was injured or mauled in this instance, but this is clearly a case in which the bear has become unafraid of humans, and that is sad.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Watch: 'Tourons' stand feet away from feeding bear at Mt. Rainier
